Cannabis

Andrew Boff: Your welcome intervention in the debate on the regulation of cannabis will require evidence to persuade Government to act. How will you be compiling the data required to show the impact of cannabis use on young people, the violence associated with the trade in drugs and the deaths related to contaminated drugs?

The Mayor: I believe the time is right for an evidence-based conversation about the legalisation and enforcement of Cannabis in the UK.
I will continue to support the police to enforce the law as it stands, but all Londoners will benefit if we can start a conversation that leads to a reduction in violent crime. I would welcome any input from the Assembly Member on this topic.

Popularity Ratings

Gareth Bacon: How do you account for the significant drop in your popularity ratings since you became Mayor?

The Mayor: On 7 May 2016, I was given the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history. I am proud to be the Mayor of a truly global, European city and a beacon of progressive ideas, liberal values and for decency and diversity.
Londoners know that I have championed our city and banged the drum for London since the day I was elected. I’ll keep standing up for London and Londoners and continue to fight the Government for the resource and money that our city desperately needs.

Strategic Challenges

Gareth Bacon: What, in your view, is the single most important strategic challenge facing London at the moment?

The Mayor: It is too simplistic to say there is anyone 'single most importantstrategic challenge' that faces London. As Mayor, I am committed to tackling the root causes of the many complex challengesour city faces. This has been made even more difficult against a backdrop of Government’s punishing anti-London agenda, their relentless austerity measures and thechronicunderfunding of London that hascome with this.I’ll continue standing up for London and Londoners, and will continue to fight the Government for the resource and money that our city desperately needs.

Cannabis (1)

Tony Devenish: What medical evidence do you have that relaxing the rules on cannabis will cut violent crime?

The Mayor: Please see my response toMayor’s Question 2019/20229.

Delivering as Mayor

Gareth Bacon: Are you completely satisfied with your record on delivery over the course of your mayoral term?

The Mayor: As Mayor, I am always asking officers to look at how best we can continue to deliver for Londoners. If the Assembly Member has any suggestions about what more we can do, to make London a better place to live, work and visit for all – I am happy to receive representations.

Cannabis (2)

Tony Devenish: Why do you believe the current approach to cannabis is not ‘evidence-based’?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2019/20229.

Honesty

Gareth Bacon: Are you satisfied that you’ve always been honest with Londoners since you became Mayor?

The Mayor: Yes. I’m pleased that at City Hall we’re taking a different approach, delivering change for our city whilst being honest with Londoners.
I said I’d make tackling air pollution and climate change a key priority, and we’re now taking the boldest action of any city in the world.This includes the introduction of the world-leading Ultra Low Emission Zone this year and declaring a climate emergency in London.
I said to Londoners that it would be impossible to solve the housing crisis overnight, but we’re now laying the foundations to fix the mess we inherited.This includes building more council homes last year than in any year since 1984, giving residents and tenants the right to a vote on estate regeneration plans and doubling our homelessness outreach teams.
I said I’d make transport more affordable for millions of Londoners, and we’ve made sure that TfL fares have been frozen for the third year running and we’ve introduced the unlimited Hopper bus fare.
And we said we’d implement a long-term public health approach to tackle violent crime – and that’s exactly what we’re doing through the London Violence Reduction Unit and the £45 million Young Londoners Fund, which is creating new opportunities for young Londoners to fulfil their potential.